Izabela Piekarska added 14 points and Kasia Krezel 12 for the
Miners (26-2), who have not lost since a 66-58 setback at Kansas
State on December 1.

UTEP trailed by as many as eight in the first half and was down,
34-28, at the half. But midway through the second half, the
Miners used a 14-2 run - keyed by seven points from Hughes - to
take a 53-44 advantage with 11:13 left to play.

Rice (14-18) could get only as close as six the rest of the way.
The Miners next will face Southern Mississippi in the
semifinals on Saturday.